More than three times as many parents in Sussex are being prosecuted for truancy compared to five years ago, amid a government crackdown on unauthorised school absences.

Councils covered by Sussex police took 625 parents to court in 2017, figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show.

This was a huge increase from 2013, when there were just 201 prosecutions.

Of those charged in 2017, 514, or 82 per cent, were found guilty.

Courts issued fines in 431 cases and handed out community sentences, such as an order to do unpaid work, on five occasions.

Prosecutions for truancy across England and Wales reached 18,377 during 2017 - 6,600 more than during 2013 - with parents being hit with more than 11,700 fines.

The National Education Union said fines were counterproductive, and that there was no easy fix for truancy

Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU, said: “One thing that is certainly needed, to ensure pupils are in school and engaged in learning, is a dialogue between the school and parents or carer.